To his surprise her tense face quivered at this and she tried to steady a tremulous lower lip.
“I am tired,” she said, a little piteously, “dreadfully tired, but nobody cares.”
“Is that fair?”
“It’s true.”
“Your friends care.”
“They only want to stop me doing something they have no sympathy with. What do Gertrude and Margaret know of the real purpose of my life or my failure or success? They take a sentimental interest in my health, that’s all. Do you suppose it made any difference to Jeanne d’Arc how many 228 people took a sympathetic interest in her health if they didn’t believe in what she believed in?”
“There’s something in that.”
“I thought Eleanor would grow up to take an interest in the position of women, and to care about the things I cared about, but she’s not going to.”
“She’s very fond of you.”
“Not as fond as she is of Margaret.”